Memories

I'm 8 years old....rolling down the driveway in an old farm cart with wheels as big as I am. My Nana tells me to sit indian style so I don't get hurt as there are no sides to the cart. Memories.....the accumulation of our experience, our lives. Today was a day we made some great memories and I remembered some old ones.

About 10 years ago, I told my Nana I wanted to go to New Zealand. Her quick response was that we would go there together someday, maybe after I graduated college. I'm guessing she planned to tell my Papa later. She always took the lead in family vacations. Today, I've finally made it to New Zealand and seen possibly the highlight of our trip...the fjords. 

Doubtful Sound

Today we went to Doubtful Sound, the second largest (and possibly most beautiful) fjord in the world. According to our guide, only New Zealand has technical fjords, as those in Norway, etc were carved by glaciers which somehow disqualifies them in the Kiwi's eyes. Ironically, the New Zealand fjords are named  "Sounds," which isn't the correct term, since we're getting technical. 

It took us 5 hours to get to the Doubtful Sounds. It's not a trip for the faint of heart. Begin with a taxi from the hotel to a large bus, which drops off to a smaller bus on the side of the road. After this second bus trip to a dock, take a  boat with many more people across Lake Manapouri, which loads onto a third bus that treks over the last bit of mountain to Doubtful Sound. Finally, the three hour boat trip on Doubtful Sound! Yes, you read that correctly: a taxi, three buses, and two boat trips...and that's just the way there!

It was just us on a ship with 40 people to enjoy the beautiful views for 3 hours. As soon as we entered the Sounds and saw the view in the first photo, I remembered that conversation I'd had with my Nana 10 years ago. This was the tour she would have enjoyed most. It deeply reminded me of my times with her.

Cindy and I in the fjords

While in the fjords, we saw 2 boats. One was a cruise ship which could only briefly go through the outer sounds (near the Tasman Sea) and looked like a toy ship compared to the mountains on either side; another, a small vessel heading out to sea. We enjoyed this large expanse God created primarily to ourselves. It was not only sunny (it rains and is cloudy 2 out of 3 days here), but it was calm. We were the lucky (we call it blessed) 1 in 50 trips that got to venture all the way to the outer sounds and into the Tasman Sea, viewing many of the small islands and the first look that Captain Cook had when he named the area.

Nee Islets, including the Hair's Ears in the background

Doubtful Sound was named "Doubtful Harbor" by Captain Cook in 1770 when he sailed by, deciding not to go in as he did not think he would find harbor there. I just think that the most beautiful fjord in the world should be named Cook Fjord if only he'd dared to venture in. If a cruise ship can sail through here and look like a row boat, I think he would have been fine, but at least he got the tallest mountain in New Zealand named after him.

We were pretty much in awe the whole time. On our way out to sea, we saw a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins faintly in the distance. As we circled the Nee Islets, we found a large colony of seals. Technically, the New Zealand fur seals are closer to a seal lion than a seal. More improper naming.

Fur Seals on the Nee Islets, sunbathing and playing in the water

To conclude our tour, we drove 2 kilometers down into the earth through solid rock tunnels into a hydro-power station. It takes water from Lake Manapouri and runs it through turbines, then down to the Sound in two very long underground tunnels. It was impressive and produces 18% of New Zealands electricity, but was definitely overshadowed by the fjords and is not as impressive as Hoover Dams' turbines and size. It was unique to see, because it is very secluded, as are the sounds (since you have to take land and water transportation to even get to this part of New Zealand).

I think the largest testament to how amazing the views were is that we are still wearing big smiles, despite getting up at 6 am and spending 10 hours traveling by bus and boat in order to spend a measly three hours in the sounds (not to mention the fact that we had only one meal during the 13 hour period). On the trip, we both talked about our grandmas and how they have loved us and affected us so deeply. We cherish the memories we made today and dedicate this post to the memories we have with Nana, Grandma, Granny. Thanks for teaching us to cherish the memories.

Love, the George family